James Lee Barrett, Award-Winning Scriptwriter, Dies

James Lee Barrett, a Tony Award-winning stage, television and film writer, died at his home in Templeton, Calif., Sunday. He was 59 and had cancer, said a spokesman for Preferred Artists Talent Agency.

Born in Charlotte, N.C., the former Marine came to notice in films with his writing of “The D.I.” in 1957, a Jack Webb picture about a drill instructor.

His other film writing credits included “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” “The Green Berets,” “Bandolero!” “The Undefeated,” “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Shenandoah.”

He also wrote the Broadway version of “Shenandoah,” which ran for two years and earned him a Tony.

For television he did the pilot for “Our House,” “Belle Starr,” “The Awakening Land,” a remake of “Stagecoach,” and “In the Heat of the Night,” the pilot film for the current series.

Survivors include his wife, five children, two sisters and a grandchild.